No risk of cancer from anti-TNFs

1st June 2011

The charity Arthritis Research UK has that the findings of a study which suggests people who take anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies for arthritis are unlikely to face an increased risk of cancer, would be reassuring to people on the treatment.

A spokeswoman said: “Our own studies have not established a link between anti-TNF and developing cancer. However anti-TNF is not recommended for people who have previously had cancer - especially in the ten years before considering starting anti-TNF - because it may increase the risk of the original cancer coming back or another one developing.”